ZERO-EDGE hydrotherapy pool
In the heart of Jordan’s Red Sea coast
In Aqaba, the heat rises early. By mid-morning, the desert light pours over the Red Sea, flooding the palm-lined terraces of the Movenpick Tala Bay Resort. Inside the spa complex, the air is cooler, quiet. You step through glass doors into a space where water and architecture are perfectly balanced.
It began as a completed drawing. The architecture was already signed off. But on the construction table, some details needed more precision. We were called in — not to redesign, but to refine. To make sure that every jet, every overflow edge, every hidden pipe delivered the experience the resort’s guests expected from a five-star address in Jordan.
The challenge behind the calm
The spa’s hydrotherapy pool is part of a vast 1,200 m² wellness and fitness centre. The brief was clear: a continuous mirror-like overflow, perfectly level across the entire perimeter — in other words, a zero-edge pool — and therapeutic features that would work in harmony without disturbing the water’s visual calm. The main basin — 12 metres by 6 — might look simple at first glance. But beneath the surface, its systems are a carefully orchestrated network.
We measured, recalculated, and adapted. In a desert city, water is precious. Hydraulics had to be tuned for both efficiency and effect.
More than a zero-edge pool: an aquatic circuit
Once inside, guests discover more than a place to swim.
Four stainless steel water cannons arc into the pool, their falls strong enough to ease shoulder and neck tension.
Geyser jets pulse from the floor, stimulating the feet while oxygenating the water.
Along the steps, a string of discreet air plates releases a gentle curtain of bubbles.
Sculpted concrete loungers and massage chairs — embedded with perforated air plates — create pockets of pure relaxation.
Every system had to be precisely positioned, tested, and balanced so that one feature would not overpower another. The overflow’s soft murmur remains constant, a frame for the sensory experience.
A finish to match the setting
The interior is lined with custom mosaic in deep, warm tones — echoing the earth outside and creating depth beneath the turquoise water. Light filters from the glass roof above, shifting with the sun, while recessed wall lighting gives the space a golden glow after dusk.
Even the equipment room — invisible to guests — was treated as part of the design. Heat pump, filtration, automation: every element concealed, silent, and easy to maintain for the hotel’s technical team.
From the earliest site visits to the final swim
From the earliest site visits, our work was as much about dialogue as design. The hotel’s spa team knew the atmosphere they wanted their guests to feel — warmth, privacy, and a sense of being cared for. We translated that vision into technical terms: precise water temperature control, perfectly aligned jets for consistent pressure, lighting that shifted gently with the day. During commissioning, we walked the space together, adjusting flows and temperatures until every feature worked in harmony. Today, the result speaks for itself — guests linger longer, the spa staff spend less time on maintenance, and the hydrotherapy pool has become a signature experience the hotel is proud to present.
From plan to performance
Our role went beyond correcting the drawings. We coordinated trades, adjusted execution methods, and oversaw the commissioning. In a project where deadlines were tight and precision mattered, the smallest tolerance could affect the final result.
Today, the hydrotherapy pool is the quiet heart of the resort’s wellness offering. Guests come in from the desert heat, sink into warm, aerated water, and forget the time. The design performs every day — discreetly, reliably — allowing the experience to speak for itself.
Discover more about the design principles behind our infinity pools — from zero-edge mirror effects to complex hydraulic systems.
Whether it is the calm of the Red Sea, the dramatic cliffs of the Mediterranean, or the shade of an African courtyard, we design pools that belong to their surroundings as if they had always been there.
If your vision takes shape in the Middle East, Africa, Southern Europe or select international destinations, we can bring the same precision and discretion to your project — wherever water, light, and architecture must work in perfect harmony.